Re: KOHA trade mark application - ways to help

The analogy here is that if you give something away you can't control what
people will do with it. However, with the GPL there is a explicit contract.
The contract exists because we don't want individuals or companies
restricting and removing the freedoms we explicitly wish to give all
downstream recipients.

In the case of Koha a company has tried to obtain exclusive control over
the name of the software; a right to which it has in no uncertain terms not
been given by the Koha Community.

So to correct the analogy it is as if he took the hand crafted tapestry
from the wall of his mothers house and cut it into rags without permission.

Of course, when we talk about trademarks and other intellectual property
rights it is all far more complex and abstract.

On Fri, Nov 25, 2011 at 4:20 PM, Michael Field <[email protected]
> wrote:

> A Christmas tale...
>
> (caring mother) Here, have this hand crafted tapestry, I hope you find it
> useful, however you use it
> (teenage son) Great, it's just what I needed!
> (caring mother) [slightly surprised] Glad you like it!
>
> A short while later...
>
> (caring mother) Did you find a good place for that tapestry?
> (teenage son) Sure did, it was very helpful!
> (caring mother) Helpful?
> (teenage son) Sure, I cut it into rags for checking the oil in the car.
> (caring mother) You did what!?!
>
> I have sympathy for the HTL but when you give things away it doesn’t
> always work out as you expect. :-(
>
> It's also way I now never put anything on Trademe with a $1 reserve -
> sadly it's easier to put it in the bin once you no longer need it.
>
> Mike
>
>
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